Watch Ancient Worlds Brought to Life: Quest for Immortality

Ancient Worlds Brought to Life: Quest for Immortality is a documentary movie which takes us on a fascinating journey to discover how and why ancient civilizations were so obsessed with the idea of achieving immortality. The movie is directed by James Tovell and features Trevor Nichols, Richard Danbury, Adrian Goldsworthy, and Andrew Wallace-Hadrill.

The movie starts by exploring the earliest human attempts to achieve immortality, dating back to ancient Egypt, where pharaohs were entombed with items they hoped would help them in the afterlife, such as food for the journey and even servants to serve them. We get to see some of the most impressive tombs and mummies, as well as learn about the rituals and ideas that drove the ancient Egyptians' beliefs.

From there, the movie takes us to other ancient civilizations such as Rome and Greece, where the concept of immortality was expressed differently. For the Greeks, it was less about the afterlife and more about leaving a legacy, as we see through the immense passion for poetry, philosophy, and theater. Meanwhile, in Rome, the obsession with eternal life was linked to the idea of achieving glory through military conquests, architectural marvels, and monuments that would immortalize the leaders' names.

Throughout the movie, we are treated to stunning visuals, including 3D animations, reenactments, and actual footage of ancient structures, statues, and artifacts. The narration is engaging and informative, providing a clear exploration of each civilization's concept of immortality and how that concept was manifested in their daily lives.

One of the movie's highlights is the interviews with historians and experts in the field, such as Adrian Goldsworthy and Andrew Wallace-Hadrill. They each share their knowledge and expertise, adding depth and insight into the presented material. Sometimes these interviews felt a little dry and tedious, but they were for the most part well-presented.

The documentary's title, "Quest for Immortality," acts as a unifying theme that ties all the different threads together. As we learn about the different cultures' interpretations of immortality, we also get a sense of the universality of the human quest for eternal life. The movie transcends time and place, leaving us with a timeless message about the human condition.

Overall, Ancient Worlds Brought to Life: Quest for Immortality is an engaging and informative documentary that explores ancient cultures' obsession with achieving eternal life. The movie's visuals and narration are top-notch, and the expert interviews are crystalline in their explanations. If you have any interest in history, mythology, or simply the human condition, then this movie is for you. You will be taken on a journey through time that is both fascinating and enlightening.

Ancient Worlds Brought to Life: Quest for Immortality is a 2006 documentary with a runtime of 52 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.5.